Why does my belly button have a bad odor?

Question

I have an innie belly button and I clean it everyday in the shower, but not too long after I clean it, it has this absolutely repulsive smell. Also, it's moist in there, like somehow there's moisture in it but it's dry after I get out of the shower. How do I get rid of this horrible odor?

To add to this a bit more. I have had one cesarean and I am pregnant now, as well. My belly button has never been pierced, either.

Answer 1

Use q-tips and rubbing alcohol. After having four kids, including a cesarean... I'll just say you're not alone.

Answer 2

You have to wash your belly button out everyday because it accumulates sweat, dirt, etc, and it will build up in there and get hard to get out. Take a q-tip and moisten it and wipe gently until you get it all out...and then take several more q-tips and go around in there until it is dry. This should take care of the odor but you must do this on an everyday basis. If you go swimming, do exercise, just about anything...it causes build-up of bacteria and germs in there and will need to be cleaned out and dried thoroughly....
Absolutely DO NOT try to put lotion or anything else in there to make it smell good. This only causes the product to "sour" and make a bad odor anyway. Just keep it clean and dry is all that is required. Good luck!
Do Not use baby powder to keep it dry as it is perfumed and will cause odor. Use plain cornstarch. It is natural and has no additives or preservatives. Much better to use if you must use anything at all.

Answer 3

Human beings actually produce two kinds of sweat: eccrine, a clear, odorless sweat that appears all over our bodies, performing the vital role of regulating body temperature, and apocrine, a thicker substance that is produced by glands in the underarm and groin areas. Apocrine sweat is a vestige of our prehistoric days and serves no apparent purpose. It, too, is odorless -- until bacteria on the skin's surface act upon it. The by-product of this unholy union is what we call B.O. (body odor)

In adolescents, B.O. is a sign of puberty. After all, the apocrine glands become active only after puberty, and they release sweat that has a strong, easy-to-identify odor. Also, aging and metabolic changes can bring on increased apocrine activity. And the smell of certain pungent foods (like garlic!) can ultimately work its way through your pores and into the nostrils of others.

The secret to combating most body odors is to inhibit the body's production of apocrine sweat, decrease the number of bacteria acting upon that sweat or remove the offender. Give these tips a try -- from "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies" -- and soon you, and those around you, will be enjoying the sweet smell of your successful war against B.O.

Wash daily with a deodorant soap. That's one of those morning rituals you must do. If antibacterial soaps aren't producing results, experts suggest washing the areas with an acne cleanser such as those that contain benzoyl peroxide, which has strong antibacterial properties. A warning though: Excessive use could cause drying and irritation. If these cleansers don't work, you can also try dabbling on some antibacterial ointment.

Freshen up -- every now and then. During the day, if you can do a quick wash of your armpits with a wet washcloth or paper towel, you can take care of some of that odorous material that has been produced as well as many of those bacteria that will produce odor in the future.

Aside from using deodorant soap, apply also underarm deodorant. Check your labels. The deodorant should contain antibacterial metallic salts (aluminum or zinc) to kill odor-causing bacteria. Roll-ons and sticks will provide better coverage and longer-lasting protection than sprays. Antiperspirant is also highly recommended.

Rub on some alcohol. You may want to try directly applying a splash or two of some rubbing alcohol during the day just as some extra maintenance. Alcohol helps reduce the number of odor-causing bacteria. Aim your splash where bacteria hang out -- under the arms, for instance.

Still another: "Roll on" some baking soda. "Sodium bicarbonate, better known as baking soda, kills the odor-causing bacteria and absorbs moisture," says Dr. Arthur Jacknowitz, chairman of clinical pharmacy at West Virginia University School of Pharmacy in Morgantown. "Many people find that baking soda is just as effective as a deodorant." Simply sprinkle a generous amount into your bath and soak yourself, or mix it with a little talcum powder and apply it directly to underarms.

Dr. Jacknowitz also suggests shaving excess hair under your arms. "The presence of hair increases body odor, because it serves as a collection site for secretions, debris and bacteria," he says. "Shaving your armpits is one way to reduce body odor problems. However, antiperspirants should not be used on newly shaved skin."

Hold the spices, urges Dr. D'Anne Kleinsmith, a cosmetic dermatologist at William Beaumont Hospital near Detroit. Extracts of proteins and oils from certain foods and spices remain in your body's excretions and secretions for hours after you eat them. These extracts can impart an odor. "So, if you have body odor problems, you'll have more problems if you eat a lot of these foods," she says.

Answer 4

well an innie is just a pit, so the sweat builds up down there, i believe you have a infection going on down there, try baby power to help keep it dry,and dont use anytype of soap,in or around the area,go chat with you doctor,im sure this will go way fast with some antibiotic's. you could also use baby wipes to clean it ,much better than soap......

Answer 5

The navel has creases in it so the smell comes from sweat, the dead skin cells (and sometimes other debris) lodged there. Just like behind ther ears. You can use a Q-tip dipped in alcohol to make sure you get between the folds. It should help...

Answer 6

Superglue sounds fine but alternatively a 'belly bar' piercing would give you somewhere to hang a small air freshener from.

Answer 7

after showering, dry the area well, and apply a regular type of underarm deodorant to the area. just rub it in there with your finger or a Q-tip. this should do the trick.

Answer 8

After you dry with your towel, maybe you should try baby powder to absorb any extra moisture.

Answer 9

i just threw up all over my keyboard, so now im going to post a question on yahoo answers "why does my keyboard have a bad odor"

Answer 10

Superglue it shut!